Moved with family to San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles at age 10; began creating silver jewlery during early childhood

Supported himself as an oil worker in Texas, a wrangler, a cowboy, a rodeo rider and a fiddler with bluegrass and country-music bands

Served in Vietnam as a gunner in the Mekong Delta; wounded twice

Returned to Los Angeles to concentrate on career as silver artisan

Feature acting debut as Tonto in "The Legend of the Lone Ranger"

TV movie debut, "I Love Liberty"

Regular role on TV series, "Hollywood Beat"

Regular role on David Lynch's TV series, "Twin Peaks"